“… “Any cuts to the already under-staffed and under-funded ATF would be a setback,” said Brady Center President Paul Helmke, “but the kinds of cuts that are rumored would be devastating to the ATF’s ability to interrupt the flow of illegal guns across America and Mexico … These laws would be more effective and efficient because they offer a pro-active means — instead of a reactive one — to stemming the flow of guns to Mexican drug cartels and to criminals and gangs on America’s streets …” …”

“… “ATF is the ugly stepchild of every administration,” said James Cavanaugh, a former senior ATF official …”

Why is that? Shouldn’t the WaPo reporters have asked for an explanation for that answer because to me that is an awfully odd thing to say? I don’t recall ever hearing an employee of another government agency say that.

Perhaps it is because the agency’s sole purpose is to restrict the freedoms of average Americans. ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Alcohol prohibition was a public policy disaster, all tobacco regulation has done is driven up the cost, while gun control policies have cost who knows how many decent people their lives. If the White House and Congress are serious about cutting spending, they should abolish the ATF entirely.

Talking about parental responsibility is good. However, he seems to have forgotten basic firearms safety as he appears to have his finger on the trigger at the 4:05 mark when he’s pointing the revolver at his own face …

“In the wake of the Tucson shootings, reasonable gun control legislation has made an appearance on Capitol Hill. It can survive and become law, but only if lawmakers find the courage to back it. One proposal – introduced in both the House and Senate – would ban high-capacity ammunition clips that hold more than 10 bullets … Another proposal, introduced this week in the Senate, would close the “gun show loophole” … gun-control advocates are not particularly hopeful … There is no way to test the waters but to wade into them …”

“… The White House said that to avoid being accused of capitalizing on the Arizona shootings for political gain, Obama will address the gun issue in a separate speech …”

The antis are all about capitalizing on tragedy. They have no facts to back up their arguments and their policies are a proven failure at enhancing public safety. All they can do is lie and shriek and whine and hope they can intimidate their opposition into silence.

Obama has been pretty clear with his other far-left policies and right now this just sounds like a lame effort to placate some of his base.